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The Magee Board of Aldermen met Tuesday, March 5, 2024, for its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting was the last for City Attorney Marc McMillan, who has resigned to focus on his private practice after serving the city for two and a half years. Mayor Dale Berry and the board expressed their gratitude to McMillan for his service.
The board approved the meeting’s agenda, as well as corrected minutes from the last board meeting. The claims docket was also approved.
Forrest Dungan of Clearpoint Consulting Engineers updated the board on a number of projects in the city, beginning with the project at water plant number one.
“The equipment has been ordered,” he said. “We’re waiting on delivery.”
Dungan said the project for replacing the city’s water meters has been advertised and bids will open on April 2, 2024.
After being asked if the meters in question will have a leak detector, Dungan explained that there are two types of meters: radio-read meters and cellular-based read meters.
The radio-read meters have a range of a quarter mile, while the cellular-based read system uploads information through a cellular signal to the home base, which works better for automatic leak detection.
“We had planned on doing radio-read,” Dungan said.
If the city switches to a cellular-based system, the price will increase. Tim Bray explained the cost is about $60 more per meter, and the set up is higher and requires a monthly cellular fee.
Dungan said if the city purchases less than 1,500 meters it might not get its money back over time.
“Most of the systems we work with are doing radio read,” he said.
The board asked for more information about the meters and will discuss the issue in its workshop on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Dungan advised the board to adopt an emergency procurement policy that adheres to federal regulations.
He told the board that the sonar survey of the lagoon is complete, and they are working on a preliminary plan for some improvments that will help the lagoon. The board approved having his company develop a plan for the lagoon.
He said he expects construction to begin on the park and pickleball courts in early 2025.
“Playground equipment has a long lead time,” he said.
He said the erosion problem on 11th Avenue does qualify for a grant that would be either an 80/20 or 75/25 match. He estimates the project will cost between $100,00 and $150,000.
Alderman Sammie Tebo said, “Any help we can get…pursue it!”
The board will interview applicants for the Maintenance/Airport Management Position on Thursday, March 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Public Works Superintendent Tim Bray updated the board about the cost of repairing the roof of the old YMCA building, as well as a sewer problem at Francis and 1st Avenue.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre explained the need to adopt a new ordinance to replace the original ordinance for the Historic Preservation Commission. She also reported on the success of the city’s first town hall meeting.
Future town hall meetings will be held on March 18 (Ward 3) and March 25 (Ward 2).
Two zoning hearings will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. One property will be considered for rezoning and another for conditional use as a rooming house.
On Saturday, March 9, 2024, the city will have various volunteers working in an Adopt-a-Street program to clean up areas of town. Volunteers were still needed to adopt 5th Avenue NE to SE.
Aguirre provided the board with a list of businesses that have not complied with the privilege license. The board advised her to reach out to those businesses again.
“Everybody needs to follow the same rules,” said Alderman Mark Grubbs.
Jimmy Zila reported that he had received estimates for repairing concession stand windows at the Sportsplex, and two of the estimates were very close in price, while a third was not. He also discussed with the board the cost of purchasing new controllers for the scoreboards or purchasing converters. The price to convert the scoreboards is $16,000 and will be provided by the parks and recreation budget. The board approved the purchase of the converters.
Fifty-two teams played in Magee last weekend, and Zila reported there were no major issues at the park. He estimated around 2,100 people were in town for the tournament. The board suggested he give local restaurant owners a schedule of tournaments so they are able to prepare for the business generated by the influx of people a tournament brings.
Tuesday night was the first night of practice for the city league teams.
This coming weekend, 24 girls’ softball teams will be in town for a tournament. The following weekend will be free, but the week after that, another 52 teams will be in town.
Animal Control Officer Benny Blair asked the board to make a decision about reopening the city pound, which has been closed due to an outbreak of parvo.
“You’re not going to get rid of it,” he said. “It’s there.”
He did explain that he currently has one kennel available for attack dogs or nuisance dogs.
Board members expressed their concern about picking up citizens’ animals and having them become infected while at the pound.
“We’ve already had two employees take it home and kill their dogs,” said Bray.
The board discussed different options for relocating the pound, and Alderwoman Sue Honea made a motion to move forward immediately and do “whatever it takes” to move the pound to a property the city already owns. The property in question has been leased, but rent is not being paid. The board approved.
Airport Commission President Joey McNulty and Interim Manager Dusty Drennan reported on airport matters. Drennan apprised the board of a number of repairs that have been completed at the airport, as well as grass that has been mowed and trees that have been removed.
He also said fuel testing will take place in the coming week.
Afterward, “We’ll be ready to sell,” he said.
McNulty asked the board to approve a revision to the ordinance governing the airport commission, changing the requirements for commission members to “residing in or owning property in Simpson County.” The board approved the change.
He also requested an RFP for hay and grass cutting outside the safe zone, saying it would be terrible if, “After all the work we’ve done, they can’t land.”
The board approved the publication of the airport revision and the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.
Chief Fire Marshal Charlie Valadie updated on various properties and informed the board that his department can do safety evaluations at people’s request.
Deputy Fire Marshal Shane Steele reported on several properties and upcoming hearings.
He asked the board to consider additional fees for limb and debris pickup, suggesting that the price be determined by the amount of debris picked up at a given address. The board will discuss the matter at a workshop and write an ordinance.
The meeting was adjourned, and the board entered executive session.
